DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1 is written by Matthew Rosenberg and published by DC. Artwork and cover is by Otto Schmidt, colours by Pierluigi Casolino and letters by Tom Napolitano.
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1 is available from today, in print and on digital where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
The smash-hit series returns! It’s the dead of winter, and any hope for a fragile truce between the Green Arrow-led human heroes and vampire queen Barbara Gordon’s army has been dashed by Damian Wayne and his guerrilla fighters. He’s the only one fighting back against the bloodthirsty hordes, leaving Green Arrow with a choice: Does he stand and fight or sacrifice the boy in the name of peace?
Review
Today DC returns to the world of the fan-favourite DC vs. Vampires series for a sequel which continues the relaunch of the Elseworlds label. Matthew Rosenberg and artist Otto Schmidt re-team for the series without James Tynion IV to continue the story as winter falls over the DCU and the peace between humans and vampires is in danger.
It’s only been a couple of years since the end of the twelve-issue DC vs. Vampires series. But after creating a rich and immersive landscape, it was clear Rosenberg and Tynion were on to something special. Picking up not long after the original series left off, we find two Green Lanterns – John Stewart and Kyle Rayner – returning to Earth only to find the planet decimated following the war between humans and vampires. Even in the blackest night the two Lanterns aren’t able to turn the tide and are quickly overrun by Wonder Woman and her vampire forces. It’s a fun little prologue which new readers to DC vs. Vampires can use to break in to the story before catching up with the established characters.
As with the original series it’s the artwork of Otto Schmidt which is instantly gripping. Even the barren landscape of the war torn Earth looks stunning in Schmidt’s hands. Despite existing on an Elseworlds Earth the Lanterns both look exactly as we would find them in mainstream continuity, instantly setting the reader up for devastation. When the vampiric Wonder Woman arrives on the scene she looks incredible. A look only elevated by Tom Napolitano’s brilliant colouring.
Returning to the present day, Rosenberg quickly establishes the status quo by setting up Damian and his followers as some kind of anti-vampire force despite their status as creatures of the night. With issue #1, Rosenberg takes just the right amount of time to catch up with each of the different groups before setting up the main story for World War V. Whilst we might not fully understand the motivations of Damian and his guerrilla fighters, Rosenberg uses their anarchic attacks to illustrate just how delicate the balance of power is between humans and vampires. When we catch up with Oliver and the humans in a snow-capped West Texas they’re struggling to keep the peace between each other, let alone with vampires. When John Constantine brings an emissary from the vampire world to broker for continued peace.
The arrival of Vampire Grodd challenges Ollie which inject some solid potential character development in to the series. It’s clear that Ollie carries the weight of the surviving humans on his shoulder. Whilst their relationships are fraught Rosenberg writes a conviction to their protects which puts Ollie at odds with his group. Whilst there isn’t time to see where that leads in this issue specifically, it sets up a potentially satisfying character arc going in to the rest of the series.
Meanwhile in Gotham, Vampire Queen Barbara has issues of her own. DC’s vampires are fallible and that’s a bold move for a creature often portrayed as difficult for anyone who isn’t a vampire slayer to overcome. Rosenberg is having none of that. Instead the fragility of their hold over the Earth is what drives Barbara and her army and shows a desperation in their actions which is unique and refreshing to read. A tussle with an unexpected Gotham character leads us in to a cliffhanger which has me wondering whether a higher power isn’t manipulating humans and vampires in order to bring about another war. DC vs. Vampires: World War V isn’t giving it all away in issue #1 so I’m looking forward to a slow burn over the next few months.
Meanwhile in New Jersey a new hero seems to be emerging in a subplot which doesn’t yet connect to goings on elsewhere. What could this new hero mean? Which side might they fall in the coming war? I can’t wait to find out…
Verdict
It’s a five-star debut for DC vs. Vampires: World War V. Exquisitely drawn, issue #1 opens up the world for new and returning readers alike with a story as alluring as Vlad the Impaler himself.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
